Safety appliance for submarines



April 1931- c'. F. EBERT SAFETY AY'PLIANCE FOR SUBMARINES Filed May 1, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR.

April 2l, 1931.

C. F. EBERT SAFETY APPLIANCE FOR SUBMARINES 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed. May 1 9' INVENTOR. "QM P Patented Apr. 21, 1931 CHARLES E, EBERT, OF PlTTsBURGHpPENNSfLv ANIA SAFETY APPLIANCE FOR SUBMARINES Application filed May 1, 1929. Serial No. 359,519.

This inventionrelates to safety appliances for submarines and more in particular to methods and means for providing the crew of a sunken submarine with an ample supply of air during the period of forced submergence.

One of the primary objects of this invention is to provide in a submarine positlve means whereby the crew of a sunken submarine may establish communication with the atmosphere to supply their craft with proper air circulation. Another ob ect of this invention relates to a safety appliance which is devoid of floats and which is composed principally of any suitable number of rigid air tubes connected end to end. A

further object resides in the construction of a special type of outlet devices whereby the rigid air tubes may be forced out of the submarine without allowing the entrance of sea water therein. Still another object is to provide means for ascertaining whether or not the air tubes have reached a sufliclent height above the surface of the sea. Yet another object is to provide outlets which enable the vertical projection of air-tubes above the surface of the sea level, when the sunken submarine assumes a tilted position on the bottom of the sea.

Additional features and advantages of this invention will appear fromthe following description considered in connect on with the accompanying drawings forming part of this application, and in which:

Fig. l is a side view of a sunken submarine provided with my safety appliance.

Fig. 2 is a cross-section through the submarine showing my invention erected.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view showing one tube outlet openv and an air tube projected therethroug V Fig. 4 is a section through an outlet, when not in use.

Figs. 5, 6, 7 show three successive-stages in the manipulation of the outlets preparatory to the projection of the air tubes.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary View, partly in section, showing different sections of an airtube assembled.

Fig. 9 is a push-rod used in connection with this invention.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary View showing a cross-section of a submarine using my invention' when in tion.

Fig. 11 is a section through a tube outlet used in connection'with listing sunken submarines.

I am aware of the fact that several safety appliances for supplying air to a sunken submarine have been proposed, said appliances consisting generally in the use of a float, releasable from within the submarine, to which a flexible tube, preferably of rubher, is attached, the other end of said tube being secured in the craft and supplying air therein. It appears that this arrangement has not met with successful application, primarily because the flexible tube is liable to get twisted or form into knots or sharp bends which prevent or greatlyreduce the entrance or discharge of air. Other reasons for the failure of such arrangement may be found in the collapse of the flexible tube due to hydrostatic pressure and that owing to the practical physical limitations of the float, the air tubes cannot be raised a sufficient height above the level of a stormy sea to prevent the entrance of water therein.

With my invention it is possible for the crew of a sunken submarine to force the rigid air-tubes a suflicient distance above the level of the sea to exclude theentran'ce of water and also overcomethe other dangers such as collapsing or knotting of the air tubes. P 7

Reference being had to the drawings, the submarine S is provided with two identical tube outlets which are mounted on the deck D of the submarine in suitable spaced relation, at I and O. The outlet at I being for the air inlet tube I and the outlet at 0 being for the air outlet tube 0 As shown especially in Figs. 4 to 7 each tube outlet consists of a hub portion 1 secured in any desired manner, such as by welding, to the underside of the deck D. This hub is'threaded inwardly, as at 2, to receive the outwardly and inwardly threaded sunken and listing posibushing 3 having a polygonal flange l for the application of a wrench or the like.

Screwed into the bushing is the guidesleeve 5 comprising the head 6 having outward threads 7 throughout its length and interior threads 8 at its upper end; the lower portion 9 which has interior threads 10 at its lower end and the intermediate polygonal flange 11 which is used for screwing the sleeve into the bushing by means of a wrench.

In the sleeve is inserted a muff 12 made of yielding material, preferably felt, which is impregnated with a heavy oil or lubricating rease to make it waterproof and to reduce the frictional engagement with the air tubes to be forced therethrough. The muff has a central aperture 13 which is slightly less than the diameter of the air tube and it is placed in the sleeve member 5 between the upper collar 1d and the lower collar 15. The upper collar is outwardly threaded to engage the threads 8 in the sleeve, and it is preferably made of wood and with rounded corners 16 to prevent any injury to the air-tubes when swayed about by the move ment of the boat or by the waves.

The lower collar 15 is made of metal and is threaded outwardly and inwardly. The outer threads fit the threads 10 cutinthe sleeve 5 and the inner threads 17 are used to suport the air tube, as will be described later. These two collars are screwed into place by means of spanner wrenches which engage special holes 18 provided in the collars.

The felt muff 12 is additionally secured in the sleeve 5 against rotation and collapsing by means of cleats 19 preferably of wood which are embedded in the outer surface of the muff, said cleats being secured to the sleeve by means of screws 20, as shown in the drawing.

The opening provided in the deck for the tube outlet is normally closed by means of a cover 21 which is secured in place by one or more bolts 22 and by the operating spindle 23 provided at the lower end with a slidable handle-bar 24. This spindle is fastened to the cover by a pin 25 and it will be noted that the threaded bolt holes in the cover do not extend therethrough, but are drilled partly in bosses 26; this is done, of course, to prevent any leaks into the sub marine. For the same reason, a gasket 27 of rubber, preferably, is inserted between the cover and its seat.

To facilitate the initial turning about the cover, I provide in the cover the equalizer duct 28 which is drilled through a bolt hole and is normally closed by said bolt. hen the latter is screwed out, prior to opening the cover, the equalizer duct will be opened thus allowing the sea water to enter on the underside of the cover and counterbalance the hydrostatic pressure thereon.

Each air tube consists of a top section 29, a special bottom section 80 and of as many intermediate sections 31 as are needed to bring the air tube a sufficient distance above the sea-level.

In the top section are provided, adjacent the upper end, one or more openings covered with transparent panes of glass, or other suitable material, having the same curvature as the air tube. The purpose of these windows is to give a visual sign when the air-tube has been raised above the sea level. The various sections are joined to gether by means of male and female pipe connections 33 formed, preferably, integrally wth the pipe sections and arranged to offer a smooth surface in and outside of the pipe. The lower tube section has an enlarged portion in which are cut threads S-i adapted to fit the threads 17 cut in the lower collar 15, for the purpose of supporting the air tube.

i lhen an air tube is first projected upward, section by section, the uppermost tube 29 is closed with. a removable cone-headed cap 35 having a reduced portion 86 which frictionally engages the inside of said tube, to prevent water rushing into the submarine during the erection of the air tube.

After an air tube has reached its proper height, the cap is slowly forced off the top section by means of a push-rod 37 built up of sections of small pipe and provided at its upper end with a felt plug 38, having both ends suitably tapered, and fitting snugly within the air tube. An upward ush of this red will remove the cap 35 and establish connection between the sunken submarine and the outside air. Owing to the cheapness of the cap, the latter when removed is wasted, and no provisions need be made to salvage the same. Should the cap be removed too soon, the water entering the air tube would be stopped by the felt plug 38, with the exception of a small amount flowing down the tubular pushrod, and which. by its presence would inform the crew that the air tube must be length ened. A. pipe cap 39 at the lower end of the pushrod may be applied to stop the flow of water. i

The purpose of inserting the bushing 3 between the hub 1 and the head (3 of the sleeve 5 is to permit of the use of special types of guide-sleeves in case the submarine should acquire a listing position on the seabottom.

Tt will be noted from Fig. 10 that if a straight sleeve of the type shown in Figs. 6 and 7 were used, the air tube would 5.- sume an inclined position in the water, and its length would have to be considerably increased to bring it a sufficient distance above the sea level. By using a special sleeve, Fig. 11, in which the head 6 is suitably enlarged'and inclinedfirelative to the vertical lower portion 9, the-air tube maybe forced'up in a vertical direction, which operation is the easiest .to perform and .requires the shortest length of tubing. In practice, each' submarine would be. supplied with several sets of special bushings, each designed. to compensate for a different inclination of the sunken submarine. Intermediate listings of the craft could be taken care of by simply increasing the length of the air tubes. Aside of the angular disposition and the enlarged size of their heads, these special sleeves are identical with the straight sleeve and the same structural elements are used in combination therewith. Under normal operating conditions, the outlets (I) and are closed by the covers 21 and by means of threaded plugs 40, screwed into the bushing '3. v

ssuming now that the submarine should sink to the bottom of the sea, the crew would proceed substantially as follows: The list, if any, of the boat and the depth under water are first ascertained by means of special instruments found in every modern submarine, to determine the type of guidesleeve as well as the total length of air tubing required. This done, the plug .40 is removed and a fully assembled guide-sleeve is put in its place. The first section of tubing 29 with its cap 35 is now pushed through the muff by hand orby means of a jack or otherlifting device available in the submarine. The cover holding bolt 22 is now screwed out of the cover to free it and allow the equalizer duct 28 to function. The cover may now be swung aroundby means of the handlebar 24 of the spindle 23. The first tube section is then pushed up throughthe outlet and as many intermediate tube sections are joined together, one at a time, and pushed up as required to bring the air tubeabove the sea level; which condition may be ascertained by looking up the tube and observing the light shining through the windows 32. If the air tube is high enough, the last section 30 is added thereto and screwed into the lower collar 15. The push-rod 37 is then pushed up into the air tube, section by section, to reach and remove the cap 35; thus establishing communication with the outside air.

'To increase the amount of air delivered into the submarine and the exhaust of foul air therefrom, the air inlet tube (1) is connected by means of additional pipe sections and a T-fitting to a mechanical fan 41, preferably direct connected to an electric motor 42.

Any flooding of the submarine due to accidental rupture or an air tube is prevented by providing each tube with a suitable valve 43 positioned below the guidesleeve 5 and which may be shut off in case emergency. 1 i The air outlet tube (0') opens "directly into the submarine and is provided immediately below its valve 43 with additional apertures 44 disposed all around the tube. If desired, this tube may be additionally supported by a stand .45. The various pipe sections required for the safety appliance are preferably stored on racks 46 conveniently placed in the submarine.

In case of subsequent listing of the submarine, after the air tubes have been opened, any inrushing water would be stopped by closing the valves 43. The lower tube sections, in the air inlet tube for intance,wou ld be disconnected to allow for the introduction of the sealing plug 38 of the push rod,

. way up into the top section 29, the valve 43 having again been opened and the lower end of the push-rod plugged .up to prevent any flow of water therethrough. Thereupon, the air tube is pulled in, sectionby section, until the cover 21 may again be closed topermit of the introduction of a special guide-sleeve to suit the new listing position of the boat;

It may also be stated that the upward forcing ofthe air tube will be assisted by its buoyancy and that the latter will also assist in supporting an air tube in an intermediate inclined position, thus reducing the strains on the lower end of the air tube, where it protrudes from the outlet.

ftercommunication with the air is properly established, the push-rod may be used for projecting visible signals, such as a flag 47 Fig. 9,'in day time, or an electric light or flare (not shown) at night time, the sealing. plug being, of course, removed.

As will be understood, as suggested herein, there may be slight changes made in the construction and arrangement of the de tails of my invention without departing fromthe field and scope of the same, and-I intend "to include allsuch variations, asfall within the scope of the appendedclaims, in this application in which the preferred form only ofmy invention is disclosed.

I claim: 7

1. In a submarine ventilating appliance wherein communication with the atmosphere iseifected by means of a rigid ventilating tube, an outlet device for said ventilating tube comprising a hub secured inwardly to the deck of the submarine and having therethrough a threaded central aperture; a bushing threaded into said hub and provided throughout with a threaded 1 aperture; a guide-sleeve threaded in said bushing; a muff of yielding material positioned intermediate the ends of the guidesleeve and having a longitudinal aperture adapted to be engaged frictionally by said ventilating tube; clamping collars positioned in the guide-sleeve and effective on both ends of the muli; anchoring means embedded in said mufi; means cooperating with said anchoring means to secure the mufl' to the guide-sleeve, and exterior cover means operable from within the submarine to close said outlet device.

2. In a submarine ventilating appliance wherein communication with the atmosphere is effected by means of a rigid ventilating tube, an outlet device for said ventilating tube comprising a hub secured inwardly to the deck of the submarine and having therethrough a threaded central aperture; a bushing threaded into said hub and provided throughout with a threaded aperture; a guide-sleeve threaded in said bushing; a muff of yielding material positioned intermediate the ends of the guide sleeve and having a longitudinal aperture adapted to be engaged frictionally by said ventilating tube; clamping collars positioned in the guide-sleeve and effective on the upper and lower ends of the mutt said collars having through apertures adapted to be engaged by the ventilating tube; the upper collar being made of nonmetallic material softer than the ventilating tube and having its aperture rounded at the outer end; the lower collar having its aperture threaded to accommodate the lower threaded end of the ventilating tube; anchoring means embedded in said mufi; means cooperating with the anchoring means to rcmovably secure said muff t0 the guide-sleeve, and an exterior rotatable cover operable from within the submarine to close said outlet device.

In a submarine ventilating appliance wherein communication with the atmosphere is effected by means of a rigid ventilating tube, an outlet device for said ventilating tube comprising a hub secured inwardly to the deck of the submarine and having therethrough a threaded central aperture; a bushing threaded into said hub and provided throughout with a threaded aperture; a guide sleeve threaded in said bushing; a muff of yielding material positioned intermediate the ends of the guide sleeve and hava longitudinal aperture adapted to be engaged frictionally by said ventilating tube; clamping collars positioned in the guidesleeve and effective on the upper and lower ends of the mutt; said collars having through apertures adapted to be engaged by the ventilating tube; the upper collar being made of non-metallic material softer than the ventilating tube and having its aperture rounded at the outer end; the lower collar having its aperture threaded to accommodate the lower threaded end of the ventilating tube; anchoring means embedded in said muff; means cooperating with he anchoring means to removably secure said mufi to the guide-sleeve; an exterior rotatable cover operable from within the submarine to close said outlet device, and means to equalize the hydrostatic pressure exerted on said cover. r.

4:. In a submarine ventilating appliance wherein communication with the atmosphere is eiiected by means of a rigid ventilating tube, an outlet device for said ventilating tube comprising a hub secured inwardly to the deck of the submarine and having therethrough a threaded central aperture; a bushing threaded into said hub and provided throughout with a threaded aperture; a guide-sleeve threaded in said bushing; a muff of yielding material positioned intermediate the ends of the guide sleeve and having a longitudinal aperture adapted to be engaged frictionally by said ventilating tube; clamping collars positioned in the guide-sleeve and effective on the upper and lower ends of the muff said collars having through apertures adapted to be engaged by the ventilating tube; the upper collar being made of non-metallic material softer than the ventilating tube and having its aperture rounded at the outer end; the lower collar having its aperture threaded to ac commodate the lower threaded end of the ventilating tube; anchoring means em bedded in said muff; means cooperating with the anchoring means to removably secure said muii to the guide-sleeve; an eX- terior rotatable cover operable from within the submarine to close said outlet device; bolt means to lock the cover in closed position; said cover having ducts to introduce hydrostatic pressure on the underside there- 01", said ducts being closable by said bolt means.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

CHARLES F. EBERT. 

